UTHSC welcomes new chair

Dr. Steven A. Wartman
(right), dean of the
Medical School and
executive vice president
for academic and health
affairs, welcomes Dr.
Carlos Roberto Jaèn, new
chairman of the
department of family and
community medicine, to
the Health Science Center
during a reception held
July 25 on campus.

The UT Health
Science Center
welcomed Dr. Carlos
Roberto Jaén as the
new chairman of the
department of family
and community
medicine at a
reception last week.
His appointment
completes a legacy
that began more than
30 years ago.

Dr. Jaén comes to the
UTHSC from the
State University of
New York (SUNY) in
Buffalo, where he
served as vice chair
for research and
development in the
department of family
medicine. While still a
medical school
student at SUNY, Dr.
Jaén met a man who
would later influence
his career: Dr. F.
Carter Pannill. Dr.
Pannill is the founding
dean of the UTHSC
Medical School and
served as Dr. Jaén's
mentor.

"It is very fitting that I
am in the institution
that he started," Dr.
Jaén said during his
welcoming reception
July 25.

Dr. Jaén has an active
track record of grant
support and
publications,
particularly in the
areas of preventative
medicine and Latino
health care. He said
he was attracted to
the San Antonio area
because of the high
concentration of
Latinos and the
UTHSC history of
service to South
Texas. "My
commitment is not
only to San Antonio,
but to the whole
South Texas region,"
Dr. Jaén said. "I work
for the entire region. I
just happen to have an
office in San
Antonio."

While in that office,
Dr. Jaén said he
plans to take family
and community
medicine to the next
level. "Our
department probably
has the best faculty
in family and
community medicine
in the country. We
have tremendous
potential for creating
new knowledge. This
is a tremendous
opportunity," Dr.
Jaén said.

By 2010, Dr. Jaén
would like to see
greater strength in
research, education
and clinical service.

"We are very
fortunate to have
attracted someone of
his caliber," said Dr.
Steven A. Wartman,
Medical School dean
and executive vice
president for
academic and health
affairs. "His interests
mesh very well with
the Health Science
Center and the
Medical School. He's
starting with a very
strong department
and is the right leader
for the department at
this time."

Dr. Jaén began
serving as chair June
25. In addition to his
duties at the UTHSC,
he is co-director of
the Center for
Research in Family
Practice and Primary
Care and director of
the Center for Urban
Research and
Primary Care.